Thank You Notes

‘Tis the season for gratitude and we’ve got loads of it. Here, some of us share a few thoughts about what we’re thankful for and all that we have to look forward to. Everyone here at VPCS wishes our colleagues, family and friends a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Patti Llamas: I am grateful for all the wonderful people I work with, including our amazing clients and consultants.  It’s a pleasure to come to work every day. I’m also grateful for my health and for my family, who make me feel safe, appreciated and loved.

Ray Green: I’m immensely grateful for an abundance of work, great clients and incredible co-workers. I cannot overstate how strong our team is and how much fun they are to work with. I also feel lucky to have my dogs, my family, my dogs … and did I mention my dogs?

Melanie Griffiths: I appreciate everyone on my team for their mentorship, support, passion for learning, willingness to help whenever it’s needed and so much more. There are just not enough words to express how grateful I am to each and every one of them. I’m also grateful for my incredible husband, my brilliant daughter and my beautiful home in this amazing state of California. I feel lucky and blessed.

Kevin Wagner: I adore this time of year, marked by the scents of the season and a gentle chill in the air. In my professional life, I am very grateful to be working with wonderful people who truly care about each other and are committed to providing our clients with exceptional service. Of course, my deepest gratitude is reserved for my wife and children, who are constant sources of profound joy and inspiration. They are my greatest blessings.

Christine Scheffer: I’m grateful for all that the VPCS Executive Leadership Team has done to support my interest in honing my professional skills through classes, courses and conferences. They’ve put their faith in me, and I appreciate it. I’m also grateful for family – including our four-legged family members – and the time we get to spend together.

Daniel Stevens: I am grateful to work for a company that supports my professional growth and development. I’m also grateful for my wife; I could not ask for a better friend and partner. As I set my sights on 2024, there is a lot to look forward to but I’m especially excited to see the full solar eclipse that will happen in April!

Mary Fitzpatrick: Health concerns made this a demanding year for me, but I’m immensely grateful to my VPCS colleagues for their steadfast support through it all. Their continuous concern for my well-being is a kindness I will always cherish. I’m also deeply thankful for my wonderful husband, who demonstrated his attentive care and commitment, supporting me in countless ways as I got back on my feet.

Corinne Figuera: There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t appreciate this job. Every person on the VPCS team brings unique traits to the table and I’m grateful for the friendships I’ve made here. I’m also grateful for my family. My kids are my rocks; they’re healthy, thriving, happy and kind and what parent wouldn’t be grateful for that? And of course my dogs, who are always there to greet me when I get home.

Jennifer Kerr: I’m grateful to work with such a great group of people. The VPCS team makes coming to work every day so enjoyable, even when things can get a bit crazy.

Angie Ramich: I am grateful to work with such a wonderful team here at VPCS, to have such great relationships with our clients and to have the full support of the communities we serve. I’ve learned so much this past year from colleagues, partners and workshop leaders and I appreciate all those who have shared their knowledge with me. I’m also eternally blessed to have my spunky, crazy, lovely family as well as the friends who make up my chosen family.

Felicia Silveira: I’m so grateful to VPCS for all the mentorship and advice my colleagues have given me in my first year on this team. Outside of work, I’m thankful for the health of my family, having a warm home to come to at the end of a long day and for my amazing dog, Azula.

Brian Cameron: I’m grateful for our great clients and for my assistant construction managers – it’s fun to see them learn and begin to take on more responsibilities. Also grateful for my parents and close friends, who are so supportive. And for my health, which allows me to pursue the hobbies and outdoor activities that keep me happy and motivated.

Kelli Van Pelt Jurgenson: I’m grateful for our VPCS staff and their deep commitment to making schools a better place. I’m constantly surprised by our employees’ dedication and patience. I’m also grateful for my kids, my husband, my dogs, my very old cat, books, podcasts, burritos, wine … and Advil! In the new year, I’m looking forward to spending even more time supporting, training and problem-solving for all my great team members.

Mike Van Pelt: It never ceases to amaze me what a great crew we have. Our people work so hard to serve our clients and help strengthen VPCS and I’m proud to have such an awesome team. This is the time of year to celebrate with family and friends because that’s what it’s all about! I wish all of our employees, clients and partners a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to another great year in 2024.

Mark Van Pelt: This year, like every year since we opened VPCS’s doors, I’m grateful for our amazing clients, our talented employes and the opportunity to go to work every day doing what I love alongside my brother-slash-business-partner. I’ve also got the greatest wife in the world, and we’ve been blessed with a terrific family, which now includes goats, dogs, donkeys and even chickens that provide us with free eggs! I’m a lucky guy.

November 20, 2023